Judge to decide if singer D4vd faces trial in teen's dismemberment case

Key Points:

• A judge in Los Angeles will hold a preliminary hearing starting Tuesday to determine if there is enough evidence to put singer D4vd (David Burke) on trial for the murder and dismemberment of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
• Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed Hernandez multiple times, dismembered her body using chainsaws in his garage, and kept her body in his car trunk for months before it was found; they claim she threatened to expose their sexual relationship.
• Burke, who has pleaded not guilty to murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains, has been held without bail since his April arrest and denies responsibility for her death.
• Evidence presented will include text messages, photos, surveillance footage, and records of Burke ordering chainsaws and wading pools; the hearing will last about four days and is similar to a mini trial without a jury.
• D4vd gained fame through music on platforms like TikTok and Spotify, with a breakthrough song in 2022 and performances at major events like Coachella, with the alleged murder occurring shortly after his rise to prominence.